The individual who has guided SummitMedia‘s four Springfield, Mo., radio stations for nearly two decades and, before that, led radio properties in the market owned by Mid-West Family Stations, has decided to retire.
Rex Hansen, who as VP/GM guided KTTS-FM 94.7, KSPW-FM 96.5, KRVI-FM 106.7 and KSGF-AM & FM translator to market leadership, plans to retire by the end of January 2019.
Hansen’s retirement will cap a long and successful career that saw him successfully guide the four stations through three ownership changes, starting with Journal Broadcast Group, which sold its properties to The E.W. Scripps Co.
Scripps then opted to exit radio station ownership, and sold the Springfield, Mo., stations to SummitMedia earlier this year as part of a multi-market transaction.
Hansen, 63, joined KTTS in 2000. His time in Southwest Missouri radio management dates to 1992, when he ran Mid-West Family’s KOSP-FM “Oldies 105.1.”
Hansen was recognized by the Missouri Broadcast Association as the state’s “Distinguished Broadcaster” in 2011 after serving as the state association Chairman for two consecutive years from 2000 to 2002.
During his tenure, Hansen launched KSPW as “Power 96.5” and took KSGF-FM to its News/Talk simulcast with KSGF-AM. This happened in 2001. KRVI was reborn as “The River” under Hansen’s leadership in 2012.
Also under Hansen’s tenure is the considerable success of KTTS, which won the 2017 NAB Crystal Award for community service, Country Music Association’s “Station Of The Year” in 2016 and 2018, The Academy of Country Music “Station Of The Year” in 2016 and 2018, the Edward R. Murrow National Award for outstanding news coverage in 2012 and 2015.
SummitMedia CEO Carl Parmer said, “Springfield has been extremely fortunate to have benefited from Rex’s leadership, character, and compassion for many years. We wish him well in his much deserved retirement.”
Hansen commented, “Working with these stations for the last two decades has been a dream come true. Serving Springfield and the surrounding communities has been a passion of our team. Helping create a better community has been and continues to be our mission. I’m looking forward to spending time with Pam, my wife and our family. There is a strong leadership team in place at SummitMedia Springfield that has been developed and fully prepared for this moment. I’m confident they will continue our successful record. It’s been a great ride!”
Hansen began his career as an Account Executive at WISM-AM & WMGN-FM in Madison, Wisconsin. He was promoted to Sales Manager in Madison and Station Manager at WJBC & WBNQ in Bloomington, Ill. After his first GM role with WYMG in Springfield, Ill., he moved his family to Springfield, Mo.
